MEDIA COURTHOUSE — A Darby Borough man has been arrested and charged in the October 2017 beating death of retired U.S. Postal Service employee Brad Hayes outside the Penn Wood Middle School.

Tramaine Warfield, 18, is charged with second and third-degree murder, criminal homicide, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and robbery, according to a release from Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun M. Copeland and Darby Police Chief Robert Smythe.

“In this case, the victim, Brad Hayes, was robbed and brutally beaten to death at the bare hands of Tramaine Warfield, who clearly has no regard for human life, as he fled the murder scene, leaving the victim to die alone,” said Copeland in the release.

Darby Police Officer Thomas Takacs saw a black 2006 Chrysler 300 parked with its front tires on the curb and headlights on in front of the middle school at 121 Summit Street at about 4:08 a.m. Oct. 24, 2017, according to the release.

Takacs investigated and found a large pool of blood on the ground outside the driver's side rear door. He then saw a man with his head on the floor of the driver's side rear seat who was unresponsive, according to the release. Takacs radioed for medics, who transported the victim to Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Video surveillance from the surrounding area allegedly shows Warfield stomping and hitting the victim before picking up the older man and dropping him on the ground. The victim appears unconscious in the video, according to the release.

Authorities say the video then shows Warfield putting the victim into the car and attempting to drive away, but failing to do so. Warfield was then seen fleeing on foot toward Greenway Avenue on Summit Street, according to the release. Police also confirmed that Warfield stole Hayes’ wallet during the attack, which was recovered nearby with the victim’s cell phone.

Investigators sent the victim’s possessions, including the Eagles jersey and jeans he was wearing, to the Pennsylvania State Police crime lab for DNA testing. Darby Borough police received a report earlier this month identified Warfield as a possible match for DNA on those items, according to the release.

Warfield was interviewed Dec. 11 at the Delaware County Courthouse by Darby Detective Brian Pitts. Warfield initially denied knowing the victim, but later admitted that he had met with Hayes that night after leaving his girlfriend somewhere near Southwest Philadelphia or Yeadon after Pitts pointed out the DNA evidence, according to the release.

As the interview progressed, Warfield allegedly acknowledged that he recognized the victim’s picture. He then became emotional and told the Pitts, “I don't hurt people on purpose.”

Warfield allegedly said he did not intend the kill the victim, that the incident happened so fast and that his mind was racing.

“I'm not a monster, I just wish I could go back in time,” he said, according to the release.

“As the result of excellent investigative work by Detective Brian Pitts of the Darby Borough Police Department, Tramaine Warfield is now in prison where he will stay for a long time,” said Copeland. “While we know his arrest does not undo the damage this brutal murder caused to the victim’s family and loved ones, our office will continue to work to bring justice to this case.”

Warfield was arraigned Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Jack D. Lippart and remanded to the county prison in Concord. Bail was denied due to the nature of the crimes.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 2 before Magisterial District Judge Leonard V. Tenaglia. Court records do not indicate Warfield has a defense attorney.